Mucking machine



J. K. WILDEN MUCKING- MACHINE July 7, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 2l. 1946 IN V EN TOR.

ATTIYNEYS J. K. WILDEN MUCKING MACHINE July 7, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 2l, 1946 July 7, 1953 J. K. WILDEN 2,644,596

MUCKING MACHINEl Filed Dec. 21, 1946 4 Sheets-Shea?l 5 J. K. WILDEN MUCKING MACHINE July 7, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed DSC. 21, 1946 H n rrrlfilllnllllnlll. illlldllllllflllf. I I

1N VEN TOR.

Y A Trannfff [Vb||||l,I,llllIIIIIlllllIlIlllllllllllllIlllllllFlllllll q l I Patented July 7, 1953 MUCKING MACHINE James'x. wilden, Colton, Calif.

Application December 21, 1946, Serial No."717,699

(C1. ,2li- 148) 6 Claims. l This invention relates to mining'machinery and isparticularly directed to a device for loading ore or rock from a muck pile into a mine car.;v Machines of this type are commonlyv mounted on rails extending along a mine tunneland are provided withv a power-operated scoop or bucket for raising the ore or rock, and then transferring and depositing it in the mine car.

These devices, known in the art as mucking machines, are required to operate in very cramped space and are subjected to high loads under adverse conditions, such as shock, dirt,

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a mucking machine capable of operation in a narrow mine tunnel and requiring a minimum of head room and which incorporates a scoop mounted on a rocker` and adapted to engage a muck pile and subsequently swingabout ing machine having means `accessible at the rearv of the device for shifting a scoop laterally of the mine tunnel for engaging different portions of a buck pile. Y l K Other objects and advantages, it is believed,

will be apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereoi,

as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation,'partly in section, with the scoop in loading position;

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof; Figure 3 is a side elevation, showing the scoop in discharge position; i

' Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view, taken substantially on the lines 4 4, as shown in Figure l; f

Figure 5 is a sectional elevation, taken substantially on the lines 5--5,asshown in Figure' 1; f

Figure-is a sectional detail, taken substantially on the lines 6-7-5, as shown nFigurel;

Figure 7fisa sectional plan view, partlybroken away, showing details of construction of the power unit employed in connection with my,Y invention; v

Figure Sis a fragmentary plan View, partly in section, showing the air valve for the air motor, which may bev used to provide power;

Figure 9-isa sectional elevation, taken substantially on the line 9 9, as shown in Figure 3; c

Figure 10 is a fragmentary perspective view,

showing detailscf the, mechanism employed for swinging the scoop from side to side within the mine tunnel; Y Figure 11v is va side showing a modification; i,

Figure 12l is a transverse sectional elevation, taken substantially on the lines I2--I2, as shown in Figure 11; and I Figure 13 is a transverse sectional detail, taken substantially on the lines I3-I3, as shown in Figure 11. z

Referring to the drawings, `a pair of rails l0 andv II may be mounted on ties I2 within a mine shaft for the primary purpose of providing a track for a mine car I3 (see Figure 3). Transverse supports I 4 and I5 are provided at opposite ends of a base I6, which extends longitudinallyof the rails lil'l andII. The base I6 is pvotally connected atI'I to the support I4 and is provided with laterally extending projections i8 and I9, which rest on the transverse support i5. The transverse support, I 5 is formedl as an arc of a circle, having the pivot I 1 as its center, so that the base -IS may swing from side to side through the angle marked A, as shown in Figure 2, the projections I8 and I9 being Vslidable over the transverse support I5. The base, generally designated I5, may comprise a single I-beam, which may be cut and rewelded. at points alongvits length to reduce the normal distance between the top and bottom anges 2D.

A carrier 2ir is'supported on the base for-slidf ing movement longitudinally thereof. A roller 22, mounted on the base I at the forward end thereof, providesa bearing between the movable carrier 2| and the relatively stationary base I. Means are provided for effecting translation of the carrier 2| with respect to the base I6 and, as shown in Figures 1 to 10 of the drawings, this-means includes a rotary screw 23 vand a cooperating nut 24, whichiis nonrotatably fixed at the rear end of the carrier 2! The carrier 2l may include av pair of laterally spaced'I-,beams 25 and 26, suitably connected at elevation, partly` in section, A

one end by means of the nut 24 and joined at the other end by any convenient means, not shown. Mounted on the upper surfaces of the I-beams 25 and 23 are a pair of guide flanges 21 and 28. These flanges cooperate with the outwardly eX- tending portions of the upper surfaces of the beams 25 and 2'6 to define parallel guideways for a rocker assembly, generally designated'ZEl. The rocker assembly 29 includesra pair of curved rockers 39 and 3|, adapted to roll along the guideways, designated 32, provided by the beams 25 and 26 and anges 21 and 23. t will be observed that the members 39 and 3| are not of uniform curvature, but have an increasing radius of curvature toward the forward end of the rockerassembly 29. A tension element 33 rigidly connects the front end of the rocker assembly to therear end thereof to avoid bending stresses in the rockers 39 and 3|,under conditions of use, as will be described more fully hereinafter. Y

A bucket or scoop'34 is fixed on the forward-end Vofthe rockers39 and 3| and angle braces 35 and 36 Vare provided as gussets to stiien the connection therebetween. The scoop 34 has a bottom 1, provided with a forward edge 8, sides 31, a rear vface 38, and a dumping shelf 39'. Means areV provided for preventing relative sliding movement between the rocker assembly 29 and the gudeway 32 on the carrier 2| and, as shown inthe drawing, this means includes a forward pair Yof ilexible cables 40, having one endthereof secured at 4| to the gussets 35 and 35 and the other end thereof fixed to theA carrier 2| at 44. These cables 49 lie under the flanges 42 Vof the rockers 3|land 3|, as shown in Figures 1 and 4. A second set of flexible cables 43 are provided for preventing rearward movement of the rocker assembly 29 on the carrier 2|. These cables 43 are fastened to the carrier 2| at 45, near the forward end thereof, and extend beneath the flanges 42 on the rockers 39 and 3| for connection to the rocker assembly 29 at 9.

From the above description, it will be understood that the pairs of cables 49 and 43 permit the rocker assembly 29 to roll on the carrier 2 I; but prevent sliding movement lbetween the ycarrier 2| and rocker assembly 29.

It will be observed that, while the major portion of the length of therockers 39 and 3| is curved,

the extreme rearward ends ofthe rockers are formed with anat portion 46. This flatportion 46 contacts the guideways 32 at the extreme rearward end of the carrierv 2| and causes a bumping of the rocker assembly 29 relative to the carrier 2| and a slight raising of the scoop 34. Figure 3 shows the scoop in such elevated position. Means are provided for moving the rocker assembly 29 from the loading position shown in Figure l to the dumping position shown in Figure 3. This means may include a chain 41, which extends under a drive sprocket 48 and has its free endextended over spacers 49 and 59, which join the rockers 39 and 3|. The extreme end of the chain 41 is connected to'a plate 5|, mountedv at one end of a cushion 52, the chain extending axially through an opening provided in the cushion. A stop collar 53 is mounted rigidly on the arm 54. The chain 41 extends through an opening in the bumper 55, mounted rigidly on the spacer 59. The arrangement of parts is such that tension applied to the chain 41 rst slides the collar 53 into engagement with Ithe bumper stop 55 and thereafter compresses the cushion 52. A rod 56, attached to the arm 54, extends forwardly to operate the latch 51, which is pivotally mounted 011.V

the rod 33, at 58. A stationary member 59, fixed Y at the forward end of the carrier 2| cooperates with the latch 51 to maintain the rocker assembly 29 in the loading position. Applying tension to the chain 41 first serves to release the latch 51 by moving the arm 54 relative to the member 33.

Continued application of tension to the chain 41 brings the collar 53 against the stop 55 and, after some compression of the cushion 52depending on the load carried by the scoop 34, the rocker assembly 29 rolls on the carrier' 2| toward the dumping position shown-in Figure 3. A tension spring E9 is provided, which normally maintains the latch 51 in its closed position and holds the end member 5| spaced from the stop element 55.

A mine car, a portion of which isA shown diagrammatically in Figure 3 may be moved along the rails lli and into close proximity to the scoop 34 in its dumpingposition and the load in drops into the car I3. Y

Power means are provided for turning the 'screw 23 to advance and retract the carrier 2| and for turning the drive sprocket 48 for rolling the rocker assembly 29- on the carrierv 2|. This power means may include anair motor 6| having opposed inlets l92 and 63 communicating yby way of inlet pipes 54 and 95 to a control valve housing 66.

the scoop slides along the skirt 39 by gravity and The movable valve element 61 may be shifted in? `Air supplied through the pipe 64 causes the motor 9| to turn in a forward direction, whereas vair supplied through the pipe 6,5 causes reverse ro-Y tation of the air motor lil. Y Y

'A pivotally mounted valve control member 69 is connected by a link 10 to the valve I91. ment of the control rod 69 toward the left, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, causes forward rotation of the air motor 9|, and the extent of movement of the rod |59V determines the passage area available between the supply line 68 and the pipe 64, so that a high speed is obtained by shifting the control rod69` to the extreme right, while the lower speed is obtained at an intermediate position. Similarly, shifting the control rod 69 to the right causes reverse rotation of the airY motor 8|, at any desirable speed, vdepending upon the extent of movement of the valvel'. The rod 69, therefore, controls both the direction and the speed of the air motor 5|. The drive shaft 1| of the air motor 6| carries a pinion gear 12, which is adapted 'to mesh with a ring gear 13 fixed on the stub shaft 14. A screw V23 is in axial alignment with the stub shaft 14 and carries a clutch housing 15 at its extreme end encircling a portion of the stub shaft 14. Friction clutch means, not shown, is provided within the housing 15 and adapted to be actuated by the shifter fork 16 to form a driving connection besecond clutch housing 11 carrying a sprocket 18 is rotatably mounted on the stub shaft 14 and. is adapted to be clutched thereto by means of the friction clutch, not shown, mounted within the housing 11 and lactuated by the shifter fork 19. The forks 16 and 19 are pivotally mounted at 1|a and 19e, respectively. A control bar 80 is secured to the shifter collar 16 so that movement of the lever 89 toward the left serves to engage the clutch 15 to drive the screw 23. lever B9 is attached to the shifter fork 19 so that motion of the control lever 69 to the right serves to engage the clutch 11 to turn the drive sprocket 48. The sprocket 48is mounted on a shaft 8|,

Move- The control carrying a bevel gear 82, Ameshing withl apinion 83. The pinion 83 is fixed on a shaftllxdriven by a sprocket 85 xed thereon.` A chain 86 con- Vangle bracket 88 fixed on the carrier .2|, near the rear end thereof, and having an opening through which a rod 89 passes. One end of the rod 83 carries a bumper block 9@ and the other end is connected to a bell crank 9| ipivotally mounted on the base I5. A link 92 pivotally connects the bell crank 9| for -actuation of the shifter control arm 93. The control arm S3 is vrigidly connected to the shifter fork 19.'

Another control arm 93e is pivotally connect# ed to the fork 'E6 at 4 and carries a bumper block 95 which is engaged by the carrier 2| at the extreme end of its return travel. When the carrier 2| moves to the limit of its stroke to the left, as shown in Figures 1 to 3, the elements 8B and 9|! cooperate to actuate the arm 93 and disengage the clutchv TI. Similarlyywhen the carrier 2| moves to the limit of its stroke toward the right, the bumper block $25 causes the arm 93a to effect disengagement of the clutch l5.

In order to swing the forward end of the base laterally from side to side through the angle A, as shown in Figure 2, a lclevis 35 is pivot-ally connected to one end-of the tranverse support I4 and a sleeve ST, threaded to the clevis, is pivotally joined with the foot 98 of the shifter rod 39. A stationary pivot M30 Yconnects the shifter rod S9 to a bracket IQI, fixed to the base I6 'by any rconvenient means, such as welding.

Operation of the upper end of the shifter rod 99 acts, through the linkage 91 and S8, to swing the base I5 about the pivot Il. The forward end of the base I 6 and the scoop 34 therefore may be directed against a muck pile, not shown, in any direction within the limits of the movement.

In operation, the device is installed Within'a mine tunnel and is clamped to the rails Iii yand I I, by `any convenient means such as screws m2, provided on the transverse supports i4 and I5. lf desired, these transverse supports could be Y 6 uref-3.1; :Atltheten'd of;.themotionofthe assembly; 29'` on;..the .carriage 2 I,y the. attened portion 44 of the'.A rockers 3|) fand, 3 I cooperates. vwith the guideWay'sLjSZ: to Ajolt?Y the assembly 29; and "thus facilitate the discharge ,of4 muck from: theyscoop 34 vintofthe'fmine car. I3. The carriage-.completes its' returnif. motion. .just Lbeforeg the scoop. discharges.A .'.lhefleverl b9 is then automatically' rerturned to its f'neutral rpositionwhen `the rocker strik'e's the projecting end .|33 ofthe arm33, thereby.. allowing the .rocker :assembly 29 to .returnftditsloading position undery the inuence off'gravity'. The. motion 4of' the :rocker assembly -ZItowardits dumping position is"finally. arrested, through `the-"action ofi. the pairs -.of:. flexible lcables mi.. and 43: andi thus.airreslientstop; is

provided whichi has. been found particularlyefj- Vfective for discharging;:.thecontents' of fthe scoop.34,. ..1 Interlock means are provided'forfpreventing motion voffthe control lever 69 towardtheright while the' carrier'2l is inits retracted position,

since such action would cause the: air motor 6| to turn in a reverse direction and engagement of the clutch 'i5 wouldthen jam the screw 23 and nut 24. As shown in Figures/3 and-9 of the drawings, this interlock means includes anv abutment piece j|i4 pivotally mounted on the control arml 93 at IE5 and is normally adapted to provided with wheels adapted to roll on the rails and having brakes or other stop means to prevent relative motion of the supports to the rails. Air under pressure is supplied to the inlet pipe 38 for supplying power to the motor 15|. After a blast in the mine shaft has left a pile of ore or rock in front of the scoop 34, the control lever 85 is moved toward the left to turn the screw 23 from the air motor 3|. The carriage 2| and the rocker `assembly 29, supportedthereby, are then driven forwardly along the relatively stationary base I5 to engage the scoop 34 with the muck pile. The chain 4'! unwinds from the spool 87 during this operation.

When the scoopis loaded, the lever, 69 is moved to the right to reverse the direction of drive to the screw 23 and to engage the `drive to the sprocket 48. Thus, the carriage returns while the sprocket 48 applies tension to the chain 4l, thereby disconnecting the latch 57. Continued rotation of the sprocket Ai8 winds in the chain 47 and causes the assembly 29 to roll on the moving carrier 2|, elevating the scoop 3'4 from the loading position shown in Figure l and transferring it Vto the dumping position shown in Figcontact the 'undersideof the upper flange on the carrier beami 26,. when the carrier 2|=is in itsv retracted position. Until such'time asthe carrier-2| isrmoved away from its retractedposi tion bythe screw 23, the abutment pieceIM holds the control arm 93 down so that the shifter fork 'I9 and lever 69 cannot be moved toward the right. v

the `abutment piece to swing to'a vertioalposi-` tion, and it does so becauseits'center of gravity is below its pivot-ofl pivotal support. When 4the rockerassembly v29 returns toward its: loading position, the arm 93 rises until the abutment piece |04 contacts the underside ofl the upper flange on the beam 2t. In thisway reverse-rotation of the air motor 6| is prevented until the carrier 2| 'has been advanced away from retracted position. l

i This sequence of operations is repeated until the carrier 2| is operating at the extreme end of `its range. The lbaselii ris then shifted forwardly on the rails 9 and l0, to bring the base closer to the remaining portion of the muck pile. If necessary, additional rail sections are provided to extend the rails 9 and l0. Y

It'will be observed that the initial movement of the scoop 34 is in a vertical direction and therefore packing of the muck pile is avoided when the scoop is moved fromits loading position. This is an important feature, since it avoids difficulty in loading the scoop 34 on subsequent loading operations.

The entire device is relatively light in weight and may be operated in narrower mine shafts than has heretofore been possible. Furthermore, the overall headroom required is very little more than fthe height of a man. From the opduring its normal operating cycle. The operaytor may therefore remain ina relatively safe po-v sition and is not exposed to the hazard of moving rock or ore adjacent the muck pile-atthe forward end of the device.

In the modified form of my device, shown in Figures 11, 12 and 13, hydraulic means are provided for advancing the carrier and for rolling the rocker assembly. Corresponding -parts .of the modied form of this device are identified with corresponding numbers withthe'addition of the sufx a. The'scoop 34a on the rocker assembly 29a lies at the forward end of the carrier 2|@ in its loading position, AThe carrier .2Ia includesa piston I I mounted for action within a stationary cylinder III, mounted on the-base ISE. Pressure supplied to the right end ofthe cylinder |I| moves the piston. III] to the right to engage the scoop 31|a with the muck pile, not shown. Another piston I I2 cooperating with the cylinder I I3, mounted on the carrier'ZI8L carries asprocket H4, which is movable longitudinally of the carrier 2Ia. Pressure supplied to the right end of the cylinder II3 moves the piston I I2 to the left and causes motion of the sprocket I I4 `to the left. A chain 41a is iixed to the carrier 2 Ia atl II 5 and extends over the sprocket II 6 rotatably mounted on the carrier. Movement of the sprocket |I4 to the right applies tension to the chain ila in a manner that will be readily understood. Tensioning the chain ||`|a serves, first, to move the collar 53Va and rod 56a to disenga'ge the latch -51a and, thereafter, serves to roll the rocker assembly 29am the manner described in connection with Figures 1 .to 10, inclusive.

A source of hydraulic pressure is provided at- |22 and a control lever I I1 is arranged to admit pressure into the cylinder III, upon Amotion-to the left; and to admit pressure into the cylinder I I3, upon motion to the right. A connection between the base I6a and the carrier 2|EL is clearly shown in Figures 12 and 13 and may include roller bearing means I I8 and IIS at the forward end of the base I6a and similar bearing-means |20 and I2I at the rearward end of the base |65. It will be observed that the cylinder III is mounted centrally of the carrier 2|a in a position between the I-beams 25a and 26E.

Having fully described my invention, it is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the details herein set forth; but my invention is of the full scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a muc'king machine, the combination of a base, a carrierY mounted for longitudinal movement on the base, av rocker assembly adapted to roll on the carrier, a scoop on`the forward end of the rocker assembly, releasable latch means adapted to maintain the rocker assembly in loading position, power means adapted to move the rocker assembly'from Vloading to dumping-'posi- Y tion, said power means being effective to release said latch means.

2; In a mucking machine, the combination vof a base, a carrier mounted for longitudinal movement on the base and provided withlaterally spaced guideways, primary drive means for advancing and retracting the carrier on the base, a rocker' assembly including laterally spaced rockers adapted to r'oll on the carrier guideways and being provided with a scoop at its forward end, secondary drive means for rolling the rocker assembly from aloading position to la dumping position, the secondary drive meansV includingra tension :element Vsecured at the rearward .end .of therocker assembly, said primaryand secondary drive means being simultaneously operable to `Vretract the carrier and roll the rocker assembly ing it to dumping position, and a latch release member extending between the ends of the rockers and operable by the flexible tension element to release the latch means.

4. In a mucking'machine, the combinationv of a base, a carrier mounted for longitudinal move- Vment on the base and provided with laterally spaced parallel guideways, a rocker assembly including laterally spaced rockers adapted toA roll on the carrier guideways between a loading position and a dumping position, a scoop on they forward end of the rocker assembly, latch'means adjacent the scoop for securing the rocker assembly to the carrier in loading position, resilient means acting to maintain the latch means in operative position, a latch release bar extending frornrthe latch means to"a location adjacent the other end of said rocker assembly, and a ilexible ltension element secured to the latch release bar and adapted to move the rocker assembly to dumping position.V v f 5. In a mucking machine, the combination of a base, the base having longitudinally spaced transversely extending supports, the base also including a single longitudinal structural-element pivotally attached at one end to one of the supports, the other end of said element resting on the other support and being shiftable laterally inran arc relative thereto, means at the pivoted end of said element for swinging the other end laterally in an arc, a carrier mounted for longitudinal movement on the longitudinal element and provided -with laterally spaced parallel longitudinal guideways, a rocker assembly including laterallyspaced rockers adapted to roll on the carrier guideways `between a loading position and a dumping position, a scoop on the forward end of the rocker assembly, and latch means adjacent the Ascoop for securing the rocker assembly to the` carrier in loading position.

6. In amucking machine, the combination of a base, the base having longitudinally spaced transversely extending supports, the base also including a single longitudinally extending I beam pivotally attached at its rear end to one of the supports, the other end of said I beam resting on the other support and being shiftable laterally in an arc relative thereto, toggle means at the pivoted end of said I beam for swinging the other end laterally in an arc, rollers carried by the I beam, a carrier supported on the rollers for movement along the I beam and provided with laterally spaced parallel guideways, a rocker assembly adapted to roll on the carrier guideways, and a scoop on the forward end of the rocker assembly.

JAMESK. WILDEN.

(References on. following page) References Citedv in the le of this patent Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Billings et a1. Nov. 26, 1918 Huhn Oct. 26, 1920 Brackett Jan. 23, 1923K, Gow Nov. 6, 1923 Parks Mar. 3, 1925 Stage Sept. 29, 1925 Number 10 Name l Date Gilman Mar. 11', 1930 Finlay et 2,1 Apr. 25, 1933 Stoltz Apr. 13, 1937 Royle June 25, 1940 Stoltz Feb. 11, 1941 Osgood 5211. 6, `1942 Ruddock Apr. 23, 1946 Royle Jan. 17, 1950 

